“Mickey Mouse Club House! Come inside, it’s fun inside. It’s the Mickey Mouse Club House!” Now, tell me you didn’t sing when you read that. For most us, especially those of us who live in the United States, our childhoods are spelled M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e.
On November 18th, we all will celebrate the man of a mouse that helped teach us our ABC’s, our numbers, and our colors.
Mickey Mouse was born in 1928 after Charles Mintz took the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit after Walt Disney asked for a raise. (Yes, Charles Muntz from the Disney-Pixar movie Up was based on Charles Mintz).
According to John Kenworthy in his book The Hand Behind the Mouse, Mickey Mouse was originally drawn by Hugh Harman in 1925 and finalized by Ub Iwerks. Mickey was initially named Mortimer Mouse, after a pet mouse at Walt’s desk at Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City, Missouri. Walt’s wife, Lillian, convinced her husband to rename the character, and Mickey Mouse was born.
Mickey’s high-pitched airy voice was originally the product of Walt Disney’s vocal chords. In 1946, Mickey’s voice was handed off to Jimmy MacDonald, according to Wikipedia. Wayne Allwine was handed the voice of Mickey Mouse in 1983, and kept the part until he died in 2009. (He was, ironically, married to Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie mouse). Now, when Mickey speaks in Mickey Mouse Club House, we hear the voice of Bret Iwan.
Mickey Mouse has inspired children all over the world. Most children of the late 20th century, like former Bob Jones student Kyle Pettingill, vividly remember Mickey Mouse in a deep blue warlock hat commanding brooms and mops in Fantasia. Bob Jones junior Cassidy Macfarlane remembers seeing Mickey with his arm around Kermit when Jim Henson died. She said that the picture “melted her heart.” Abby Holtzclaw, another junior at Bob Jones, remembers decorating Mickey Mouse cookies every year during Christmas.
Mickey Mouse gave way to Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, and other famous characters that have made their marks in children’s lives across the world. Allison Bailey cherishes the memories of “bouncing with Tigger, talking shoelaces with vidia, talking black majic with Naveen, and talking basketball with Aladdin.” Pooh Bear wouldn’t stop giving her kisses. Even the famous Mary Butgereit has memories of playing with Mickey and Minnie dolls with her brother.
Take a moment on this great holiday to celebrate the animated animal that taught you the values of creativity and imagination.
“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing: that it was all started by a mouse.” — Walt Disney
